Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Arkansas
- Training hours
- 90 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $125
- Exam
- Knowledge Exam, Skill Test
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Long Term Care (OLTC) — Nurse Aide Registry
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. No Arkansas-published minimum age was found for nurse aide training/certification specifically — the DHS training-program rules and the D&SDT-Headmaster candidate handbook do not state one, so this is left null rather than guessed (individual approved training programs may set their own age policy). A criminal background check IS required: the DHS training-program rules specify that even candidates who qualify for the low-income initial-fee waiver (Ark. Code Ann. §17-5-104) must still pay for a criminal background check, an exam/test, and a medical or drug test — confirming the background check is a mandatory, non-waivable part of certification. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 90 hours of training (including 16 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. 90 total hours: at least 74 hours of classroom/lab instruction plus 16 hours of supervised clinical practical training, at an OLTC-approved Nursing Assistant Training Program (facility-based or non-facility-based, in-person or virtual per the curriculum guidelines). Exceeds the federal OBRA/42 CFR 483.152 floor of 75 hours by 15 hours. The state competency exam must be passed within 12 months of graduating the training program. [1]
- 3
Knowledge Exam
Pass the Knowledge Exam (fee: $30). Multiple-choice, written; an audio version (English or Spanish) is available for $40 instead of $30. Same fee applies to a retake. Administered through the Arkansas TestMaster Universe (TMU) portal at ar.tmutest.com. [2]
- 4
Skill Test
Pass the Skill Test (fee: $95). Hands-on demonstration of manual nurse aide skills. Same fee applies to a retake. Both the Knowledge Exam and Skill Test must be passed within 3 attempts and within 12 months of training completion to be listed on the Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry (ARNAR). [2]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Long Term Care (OLTC) — Nurse Aide Registry. [2]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Long Term Care (OLTC) — Nurse Aide Registry issues your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for Arkansas.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | None specified |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | None specified |
| Knowledge Exam [2] | $30 |
| Skill Test [2] | $95 |
| Knowledge Exam (D&SDT-Headmaster) [2] | $30 |
| Skill Test (D&SDT-Headmaster) [2] | $95 |
DHS does not charge a separate initial occupational license/application fee for this credential beyond the exam fees. DHS itself pays the exam fee one time for candidates employed by, or with a dated letter of intent to be employed by, a Medicaid-certified nursing facility; independent candidates pay their own exam fees. A criminal background check fee also applies and is explicitly NOT covered by Arkansas's low-income fee-waiver provision (Ark. Code Ann. §17-5-104), but the current background-check fee amount is not centrally published, so it is left out of this fee list rather than guessed.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
No continuing-education hours are required. To renew, a nurse aide must document at least 8 consecutive hours of paid nursing-related work during the prior 24 months; the nurse aide lists their employer in the TMU online system, and the employer verifies the work hours by email before the listing is extended another 24 months. Renewal notifications are sent by email/text 60 days before expiration (no USPS mail notices).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides. Arkansas offers two out-of-state pathways: (1) an Out-of-State Reciprocity process (Form 9110AR, filed with D&SDT-Headmaster) for candidates who are current and in good standing on another state's nurse aide registry; and (2) an Out-of-State Training Waiver for candidates who completed at least 90 hours of out-of-state training but have not yet passed a comparable competency exam, letting them sit directly for the Arkansas Knowledge and Skill exams. A processing fee applies to the reciprocity application, but the current dollar amount is not stated in the primary handbook sections reviewed, so it is not recorded here rather than guessed.
19 state-approved training providers in Arkansas — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $30
- $95
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Arkansas require for CNA certification?
90 total hours: at least 74 hours of classroom/lab instruction plus 16 hours of supervised clinical training, at a DHS-approved Nursing Assistant Training Program.
Who administers the Arkansas Nurse Aide Competency Exam?
D&S Diversified Technologies LLP (Headmaster), under contract with the Arkansas DHS Office of Long Term Care, via the TestMaster Universe (TMU) portal at ar.tmutest.com.
How much does the Arkansas CNA exam cost?
$30 for the Knowledge Exam plus $95 for the Skill Test ($125 total). DHS pays this fee one time for candidates employed by, or with a letter of intent from, a Medicaid-certified nursing facility.
How do I keep my Arkansas Nurse Aide Registry listing active?
Renew every 24 months by documenting at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work during that period, verified online by your employer. No continuing-education hours are required.
Sources
- [1] humanservices.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Rules-for-the-AR-LTCF-NA-Training-Program-07012024.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] hdmaster.com/testing/cnatesting/arkansas/forms/ArkansasCandidateHandbook%20V9%203.2024.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10